California State University-Channel Islands
Camarillo, CA, USA

Reviews

California State University-Channel Islands

Jose from Oxnard, CA

a current student here
8 people found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
Professors here tend to give you a feeling of knowing the next day will not be the same. Your learning something new everyday, and it also includes the beginning of the school. It is wonderful that it could be mixed with the material that you are trying to learn.
Am enjoying being here
I could just say it is a dream come true and end with this statement. I mean the staff are just super friendly and the classes are small so you get this feeling that your professor are close. The campus is growing and coming along to be wonderful place.
Bang for the buck
Financially many of the students do get a lot of help with the fees for the school. In my opinion most of which get most of the help are the local students.
Tips for prospective students
Well there is not much to state about CSUCI other than the fact it is a new Cal State. I am joking there is many interesting things that accommodate to students curiosity. Basic things such as we have a new library, new programs for some majors, the sports are growing as the years pass, and also the classes are just small. The dorms are just wonderful, since they are bigger than usual dorms. The technology is up to date in our campus.
Great for these types of students
For those students that want really small classes and go to a campus that is really calm CSUCI is the right place for you. For the guys only if you want to go college where there is more girls than boys CSUCI is the college for you. Yes i know it is downside for girls because they want more guys, but I do not want to start talking about why there is so few guys that go to CSUCI. Also I almost forgot it is really hidden but also really close to the ocean, so keep that in mind.

Kelly

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
The school is still new and is being expanded; it's only 12 years old. It is a small school, but it is a beautiful, green school. It is more of a commuter school.
Tips for prospective students
Freshman should get the 160 meal plan, which is the lowest meal plan because you will never go to the cafe 160 times. The school is surrounded by farms, so you have to drive out to get to stores, restaurants, etc. Explore the campus and find out where your classes are located before school starts. If you are interested in nursing, the nursing program is great. This is not a party school.
Academic Rigor
Depends on the class and professors. Some of the GE classes that I took were harder than I thought. Some of the classes for my major were easy and some were extremely hard. Check rate my professor before choosing to take a class with a professor.
Dorm Life
RA's are strict. Boring. Small rooms. Overcrowded. Expensive. Freshman used to have 5 people to a room (a double room and a triple room). Now Freshmen have 6 people to a room and they only have one bathroom. They are building new housing for freshman. Only plus is that you don't have to drive to campus and you can just walk to class.
Food and Dining
There are many places to eat on campus. The food at the cafe is way better than the food at other colleges.
What to do for fun
Beach. Dodge ball. Ghost hunting. Hiking. Exploring the abandoned buildings. Intramural sports. Monthly block parties. Drive-in movies nights.
Bang for the buck
You are paying to go to a CSU, but you get a private school experience. You actually get to know the professor and vice versa. Most of my professors remember my name. Housing is way to expensive.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
The well from The Ring. Helicopter pad. Scary Dairy. Abandoned building. It used to be Camarillo State Mental Hospital. When the mental hospital was closed down it was supposed to be turned into a prison, but in the end it was turned into a CSU. The library is nice and modern-looking.
Great for these types of students
Great for students that need a smaller classroom setting or that need to have a small student to teacher ratio. Great for students that may need extra help because the teachers have office hours and the school offers free tutors at the STEM Center, the LRC, and the Writing Center.
Clubs and Activities
There are many clubs to join (academic,cultural, etc.). The school always has activities/events going on. Almost all the events have free food. Dodge ball.
Greek Life
There is one sorority, but they don't have a sorority house because the President won't allow that on campus.
Campus Safety
The campus is pretty safe. Cops are always out. There was a rape incident. Many car vandalism incidents. Students that work for parking enforcement are always giving out tickets for bs reasons. Cops have let people go with a warning if they have drugs because they don't want it to go on the school's record. You will get kicked out of housing if caught with weed though. The police will not help you fix a flat tire.

Sara from North Hollywood, CA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
CSUCI is an amazingly beautiful school. It is a smaller school but big enough to walk around and find many places. It is remote but 10 minutes from the beach and shopping outlets.
Tips for prospective students
Definitely start with lower division req.'s for the first semester. Make meetings with peer counselors, they really help.
Academic Rigor
If your major is difficult, you will have a difficult workload.
Class sizes are awesome so if you need help, you'll get it.
Dorm Life
The dorms are the best. Extremely spacious and there are plenty of common rooms and game rooms or other rooms for you to spend your free time.
Food and Dining
The food here is just awesome. Don't get more than the minimum 160 plan, you won't run out.
What to do for fun
The Beach is 10 minutes away, as are the Camarillo Outlets.
UCSB. the top party school is just an hour away.
Bang for the buck
It is great for the price.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
First year of students to begin the tradition of dipping your hand into the fountain and not being able to touch it until we graduate.
Great for these types of students
Great for students coming from average sized public high schools who enjoy a feeling of community within their learning environment.
Clubs and Activities
Plenty of clubs to go around, one for just about every major and sport.
Greek Life
Greek life is just getting started. Clubs do exist.
Campus Safety
CI Police is just a minute away. Plenty of emergency call buttons around campus.
Late night pick up service is offered to students on campus trying to get elsewhere (dorms, parking lot, library) late at night and just want added safety.

CSU transfer student

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
This University is amazing. It provides the most update, modern education you could get at the campus. This campus is full of diversity. It welcomes every one. You could feel the warmth there!
Tips for prospective students
If you are into Liberal Studies, this campus would provide you the most update modern education learning you could get.
What to do for fun
There is a lot things to do such as sailing, get involved with multicultural center, student government, and community services.
Great for these types of students
It welcomes disability, and any races!
Campus Safety
I feel safe by walking at nights after my night classes.

Karina from Gardena, CA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
CSUCI has a great student teacher ratio that should encourage any incoming freshman to consider CI. You get the attention you most definitely want when you are put in a new environment--especially if you're living far from home. It gives you a great sense of stability and comfort knowing that the faculty and staff are really here for you to help you in any way possible.
Tips for prospective students
Go to your professors office hours! They are here to help you. Seriously. I can't imagine what or even where I would have gotten someone to go over some lecture notes with me other than my professors. Don't get discouraged if you are having a hard time in a class. Take advantage of the fact that they are in here to help you and just let them know what options you have for improving.
Academic Rigor
I'm currently an incoming freshman myself so majority of my classes are just helping me to expand what critical thinking is and basically putting my reading and writing skills to the test. I have yet to get bombarded with the amount of work my professors have been giving me which is just another plus.
Dorm Life
I love my dorm. If you can afford it or if your financial aid covers it, I definitely recommend it. CI has some of the nicest dorms I have seen when I was out college hunting. Nothing like the other schools. We don't even have to go to the shower halls that in some others schools have. We have the luxury of having our showers in our suites. Lucky us.
Food and Dining
We have the main cafe that has pretty much a buffet style set up that serves the yummiest breakfast lunch and dinner. Of course its nothing like home, but it really is better than the food they serve in middle and high school. Oh, and did I mention its all you can eat? Yum!
What to do for fun
Heres the tricky part of coming to CI. They try to keep the student body entertained by hosting little events around campus but majority of the time, if you don't have a car its a bit of a hike into town. So what i suggest is getting active, bring some video games, or hang out in any of the cool lounges they have. I'm not going to sugar coat it. It does get pretty boring sometimes on the weekends since I don't have a car to go into the neighboring cities but I always find something to do with friends.
Bang for the buck
The market in the town center (which is basically where our mini Market, Subway, and Juice It Up, aka Jamba Juice) is expensive for someone without any type of income. Flex cash that those who dorm have can be spent in the places in the town center. But if you really want milk with your cereal you're going to have to pay about 4 to 5 bucks for a half gallon.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Since the school has been open for about 10 years some parts of the school are still being built. If you don't know, CI use to be somewhat of a hospital. It get a little creep sometimes walking around at night just because you look around and some of the original buildings that are still empty are there.
Great for these types of students
This place is great for students who want to make not only friends but have a really big family. The campus alone is tiny and does not have the overwhelming number of students most other Cal States have. Its also great for students who prefer one on ones with teachers who are genuinely here to help students.
Clubs and Activities
So far all the clubs and activities that have been around campus have been just to motivate us. There are a lot of extremely helpful clubs for students looking for ways to commute, transfer, and even cook.

Helen from Hawthorne, CA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
CSUCI is a great University because the staff and faculty try to get to know their students. Classrooms are very small and you are able to get a lot of one-on-one time with your professors. CSUCI is also very known for its beautiful campus, it is surrounded by mountains and very close to the beach.
Tips for prospective students
-Always asks questions during lectures.
-Go to office hours if you need or have any additional questions, it also doesn't hurt to get to know your professors.
-Join a club, become active on campus!
Academic Rigor
Professors are very passionate in their fields and are always willing to go an extra mile to help their students as much as they can. Of course, classes always get harder but CSUCI has all the resources a students needs in being able to succeed.
Dorm Life
I lived in the dorms my freshman year and it was an amazing year. I always recommend to all incoming freshman to live on campus because it's such a great experience. It gives students a chance to get to know each other and the dorms at CSUCI are awesome.
Food and Dining
Every student who lives on campus receives a meal card and are able to purchase food at the cafeteria and other food places on campus. Our cafeteria is great. We have all kinds of foods, drinks, and desserts. And it is also an all you can eat cafeteria.
What to do for fun
I like having game nights with some friends and we also enjoyed going to the pool area. CSUCI also has game rooms with pool tables and all sorts of entertainment games including xbox and ps3 consoles.
Bang for the buck
CSUCI also has a great brand new library. It is such a beautiful building, it is almost made entirely of glass. Anywhere you stand in the library you can see outside. It's amazing! We also have a great database for research, so if you need to find journal reviews or case studies, you will always find something there.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
Our campus is very open to different types of celebrations. We have many clubs that honor traditions. For example, MECHA and the art club always come together for Dia De Los Muertos and create such beautiful retablos and altars.
Clubs and Activities
There are many clubs at CSUCI, we even has a sailing club.
Greek Life
We have one sorority and I do not know so much about them but I know that they do a lot of community services and host many events on campus.
Campus Safety
Excellent. We have officers always patrolling the campus all day and night. And there are also many emergency poles everywhere, you click on the button and the on campus police respond within 3 minutes.

Chantyl from Stockton, CA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
Amazing university with the best and most diverse opportunities both academically and interest wise. Due to its relatively young age in the CSU system there is so much room for growth and development and the best part is that you as a student get a say in that growth; you make it happen. You are more than a number here you are a voice.
Tips for prospective students
Get involved as much as possible. It is such a small school with not much of the typical after school campus community. If you want to make the best of your college experience here you have to seek it out, volunteer, join a club, go to an event or start your own club. Don't wait for someone to seek you out or hold your hand, you have to take the initiative or you might miss out on some of the best opportunities this school has to offer.
Academic Rigor
Academic rigor really depends on the classes you take. You may be surprised to find some of the general education courses are actually quite challenging. You can't simply assume you will just get by in an supposedly easy course.
Dorm Life
Not living in the dorms I can't give an great review. However I give it a 5 star rating because it is safe, clean, and they are very nice and roomy compared to other universities. Also there are always events going on in the dorms to get you out of your room and interacting with others.
Food and Dining
There are very limited places to eat on campus outside of the cafeteria which is very pricey. There is a reasonably priced cafe with a variety of foods along with a few other eateries such as subway and a Mexican restaurant along with a new pizzeria opening up.
What to do for fun
Without leaving campus there is not a whole lot to do, you really need to seek it out yourself. I highly suggest getting involved and opportunities for fun and activity will arise immensely. With close proximity to the beach and mountains there is always the possibility of partaking in some great outdoor activities. Using the bus system you can explore the greater camarillo area such as the outlets, movies, and such.
Bang for the buck
Attending this university you really are going to get the most for your money. You are paying a considerably minimal tuition fee but are getting those small classes with 20-30 kids max in each course, thus you are getting the one on one time with a professor that you just don't get anywhere else. You have the opportunity to meet top administrators and speak with them about just about anything on your mind and they take the time to actually listen to you. Not only that but you have to opportunity to make this university and your college experience into what you want it to be because it is a growing university and it wants your opinion.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
This campus used to be the old Camarillo mental hospital and much of the campus still retains those old buildings. It has a lot of history which makes it that much more unique. It's not scary or haunted it is just really interesting.
Great for these types of students
This is a great school for students who have been involved in clubs or leadership through high school or in volunteer work. The university really thrives from the many clubs it has because students in these clubs really make the extracurricular life for the rest of the university. The great part is even if you were not involved in high school it is still a great time to get involved and if there is something you are interested in but we don't have it you can start it!
Clubs and Activities
Excellent! Nearly a club or organization for everyone and every interest. There are so many opportunities that lie within each club as well it really makes your experience on this campus 10 times better if you get involved. As for activities there are always multiple events going on every week, really awesome because you can never say you're bored with the endless variety of events held.
Campus Safety
Excellent! There are always university police patroling the already small university. At night there is even a service you can call and they will meet you where ever you are and take you to your car or dorm or class etc. It assures that you never have to walk alone at night.

Breeanna from La Verne, CA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
CSU Channel Islands is nestled in mountains, and just across teh way from a beach; it has small class sizes and a great atmosphere. There is a large sense of community here. Certain programs are better than others, but all in all its a great school.
Tips for prospective students
Purchase your texts books the first week of class you will find some professors don't use them.
Academic Rigor
The professors are probably the best part of the school. Like all schools there are some easy professors and some hard professors but the balance at this school is good. Every professor I have had in the last year was really helpful and pretty nice. they honestly want to help you and want you to succeed, and they work really hard for us as students.
Dorm Life
The employees are very helpful, and teh R.A.s are on top of things. There is always events and fun things to do. There are events that happen the same time every week, like craft making and cocoa and board games for example, there is also tutoring Tuesdays. there are also events hosted by R.A.s and they are different all the time, sometimes they are a sport activity or a craft. also it was alot easier to make friends. I love living on campus.
Food and Dining
the food is excellent, and they really try to mix things around so you aren't eating the same stuff every day, while having keeping some food items the same for comfort.
What to do for fun
hiking, sailing, go to the beach, frisbee,dances, block parties, campus events, outlet mall shopping, go to beach, ghost hunt surf ect.
Bang for the buck
i would say its completely worth the money, the college experience is worth the cash.
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
the school was once camarillo state mental hospital so some people think it is haunted, its fun some people like to ghost hunt!
Great for these types of students
artists, nursing students, business students. people who like the outdoors, quite places, and farm land.
Clubs and Activities
there are tons of clubs sailing, biking, newspaper, just to name a few. and the school has block parties and dodge ball games.
Greek Life
there is one sorority, and the girls are all generally nice. no frats.
Campus Safety
the campus is so safe. the campus has their own police, and the sheriff comes by too they have shuttles for when it gets dark to take you to your classes and they also have free self defense classes!

Frank from Port Hueneme, CA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
In three sentences
just amazing. everyone is so welcoming and the atmosphere just pushes you to be better and show the world what you are made of. going to this school saved my like because without it, i would probably be in the military or working at a fast food restaurant.
Tips for prospective students
just because it is a new school doesn't mean this school is weak. it packs a punch and will make you feel like an adult the minute you drive down campus road.
Academic Rigor
it has been pretty east so far but the most challenging aspect is the percentage weighed down on the finals. my english final was worth 70 percent of my grade.
Dorm Life
my friends love it but i cant afford it. hopefully, i will get enough from scholarships in order to experience it.
Food and Dining
amazing food! healthy and filling, what more can be needed?
What to do for fun
clubs, inter mural sports, and just making friends anywhere and everywhere.
Bang for the buck
i am surprised that the tuition is this low for the quality that is given. love it!
Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus
my kilusan pilipino group has found its niche within the student union and is slowly expanding throughout campus.
Great for these types of students
anything is possible at this school besides rated sports by the ncaa. that will come though, and when it does, we will be leading the charge.
Clubs and Activities
so many clubs that reach into religion, politics, ethnicity, etc. possibilities are endless.
Campus Safety
perfect. the campus officers are always patrolling and is portrayed as part of the school, rather than an outside entity that is there to protect and serve.....more so they are here to make this establishment into its own entity within the community of camarillo.

Amara from Ojai, CA

a current student here
1 person found this review useful
CategoriesComments
Am learning a lot
CSUCI has amazing professors who really care about what they teach and their students. I feel like the curriculum is well-rounded and offers multiple perspectives and lots of interesting courses to choose from. Classes are like a normal high school size: around 30 students, which is awesome because teachers learn who you are individually and can help you on a personal level!
Am enjoying being here
It's small and rural, which is nice for me because I'm a quiet person and I like to be in a place that's calm. The students are really nice too and those living on campus have a tight community and seem to have fun. Being a commuter, I feel a bit left out of the loop, but still have fun.
Bang for the buck
Definitely one of the most affordable schools in Southern California. I'm shocked at how high-quality our school is technologically, yet how affordable it is too! Worth every penny!
Tips for prospective students
If you can afford it, definitely try living on campus for a semester or two. This will help you stay social and gain a unique college experience. If you can't, don't worry, just make an extra effort to stay involved! Also, take advantage of the financial aid center and the health clinic! They provide great services that are covered under your tuition payment (i.e. financial information, flu shots, counseling, etc.)
Great for these types of students
Studious, open-minded, wants to learn about different perspectives, doesn't mind living in a quiet part of town, likes smaller classes, likes the beach (15 mins away), ready to have fun.